Phils get Blanton

by JRays on Jul 17, 2008 8:08 PM EDT

The Phillies have reached an agreement with the Oakland Athletics to acquire right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton.

Blanton is 5-12 this year, after going 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA last season.

The Athletics get second baseman Adrian Cardenas, pitcher Josh Outman and outfielder Matthew Spencer, all minor leaguers.

The Phillies have been looking for a starting pitcher, in an effort to plug holes at the back end of their rotation.

A's general manager Billy Beane swapped Blanton a week after sending Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs -- and that's with his team very much in contention in the AL West, six games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Stupid deal for the phils

"I'm like a retarded Adam Dunn mixed with Jason Bartlett" - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Jul 17, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

I agree....

Hell they could have got Niemann for that…lol

by arkansasraysfan on Jul 17, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions

Outman is a solid prospect.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Jul 17, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Fat Joe

is going to get his ass kicked all around the Phils ballpark. Horrible trade for them. This is good news for all of you who want Huston Street though. I cant see the A’s keeping Street after unloading Harden and Blanton.

by hibachi7_7_7 on Jul 17, 2008 10:11 PM EDT reply actions

Blanton is better than he gets credit for.

Still think the A’s got the better end of this one (dammit) but it’s not as bad as it’s being made out to be.

by Aaron Campeau on Jul 18, 2008 5:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Why is that?

He strikes out less than five guys per nine, walks around 2.5 and his HR/9 benefit from his home park. He’s given up 1.45 HR/9 on the road this year, and has always been much worse away from Oakland.

He’s not going to be good for the Phillies.

by tallyray on Jul 18, 2008 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

The NL is far worse than the AL.

He should get a boost from facing worse hitters (and the pitcher’s spot 3-4 times a game).

by Peter Bendix on Jul 18, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

are the hitters all that much worse (accounting for no DH)?

i was under the impression that most of the the league-difference is a pitcher difference.

Blanton’s xFIPs the last four years, starting with 2008: 4.45, 4.15, 5.07, and 4.79. He’s just about league-average.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 18, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Time will tell...

But a pitching that doesn’t strike out batters and allows a decent amount of HRs is going to fair well in a hitter’s park. He’s probably slightly below league average and that’s quite a bit to give up for that.

He is better than Adam Eaton so it is an improvement. Just not a very large one.

by tallyray on Jul 18, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

by Peter Bendix on Jul 18, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I really have to start proofreading...

He’s a pitcher that doesn’t strike out batters and isn’t going to fair well in a hitters park.

by tallyray on Jul 18, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Any concerns about the defensive drop?

Oakland was #1 in team defensive efficiency rating (we’re still #2) while Philly is #12. Oakland is a .724 while Philly is .704.

by Jason Collette on Jul 18, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

yes, but it's a superficial change

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 18, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i bet that street is going to be traded in the next couple of days

oakland is in full rebuilding mode even though they are in it this year, but they are getting some pretty good prospects in return for harden and blanton, and street is probably going to bring in about the same amount of talent from the rays

by RaysOfHope on Jul 17, 2008 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

i bet your right

by Rays Rule on Jul 18, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I still don't think so

Trading away a starter with an ERA around 6 for prospects isn’t waving the white flag. It’s opening up a spot in the rotation for someone who can have an ERA lower than 6.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jul 18, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

not bad for the Phils

They’re not looking at Blanton as an ace, he’s going to be around the #4 starter. Yes, pitching in Philly will be worse than in Oakland – but pitching in the NL should help him a bit too.

The guys they traded are a long way from helping in Philly, and the team is trying to win this year…and desperately needed pitching. Blanton will probably be better than what they have.

by TallMatt on Jul 18, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

the upgrade from a #5 starter to a #3 starter is about one run every nine innings

assuming 6 IP per start, that’s two runs every three starts. assuming 15 starts the rest of the year, that’s ten runs or about one win. ballpark estimate. (some people are saying Outman could be a #4 right now.)

the rays upgrading to jason bay would be worth about 2 wins. huston street would be 1 to 1.5 wins. outman and cardenas is probably a better haul than what the Rays will give up for either guy, making this a bad, bad trade for the phillies.

by Sky Kalkman on Jul 18, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions